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fixtitrit tatta atcnt @Hita G. F. J. COLBURN, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY.-

Letters .Patent No. 67,026, dated July 23, 1867.

IMPROVED BASE FOR ARTIFICIAL TEETH.

TO ALL 4WIIOM IT MAY CONCRN:

Be it known that I` G. F. J. COLBURN, of Newark, Essex county, New Jersey, have invented a new and improved Base for Artificial Teeth; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable others skilled in the art to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification.

This invention consists in combiningr a peculiar composition with a metal plate, as hereinafter shown and described, whereby a very superior base for artificial teeth is obtained, .one which will be strong and durable, possess the advantage of being readily and economically repaired, when necessary, as, for instance,`the replacing of a broken tooth, and which may be worn by any person with the greatest convenience and comfort, even those to whom the hard-rubber or vulcan'ite bases are repulsive. In the accompanying sheet ofv drawings- Figure l is a perspective view of my invention.

Figure 2 a vertical central section of the same.

Figure 3 a section of a tooth, showing the manner in which the same may be applied to a base, in order to supply the place of a broken or detached one.

Similar letters of reference indicate correspon'ding parts.

The composition I use for the purpose is composed of gum shellue, by weight, two parts; asbestos, to give tenacity, by weight, one part; oxide of zinc, by weight, one part.

The gum shellac and asbestos are the principal or most im porta-nt ingredients, the oxide of zinc being used mostly as a coloring agent to lighten up the mass, imparting to it a color similar to flesh-color, as the shell-.1c if dark requires some coloring matter to lighten it when fused. The oxide of zinc may be dispensed with, or other coloring agent used instead. The proportions, also, of the several parts may bevaried to some extent. The parts above described are pulverized, well mixed, and then fused together. The composition is then made in Aproper shape or form to suit the mouth, with the teeth inserted in it. The process of moulding and shapingthe base is the same as'now practised with the rulcanite or hard rubber, now almost universally used by dentists, the only exception being that the troublesome process ofvvulcanizing is avoided.

In the-drawings, the composition portion of the base is represented by A, and the teeth and gum portion by B. O represents the metallic portion, which may be of gold,silver, platina, or aluminum. This metal plate is constructed in the same manner as the solid metailic'bases for teeth formerly used. Tliis'metallic plate, C,

is secured to the upper -side of the composition A, by having the upper surface of A corrugated or roughened, l

and then secu"ing and pressing the metal plate C firmly on A, and subjecting both parts to a gentle heat, which, together with the pressure, causes a rm adhesion of the metal plate andthe composition.

The under or lingual surface of the base, it will be seen, is formed of the composition A, which is utterly tasteless, and may be used or worn by any one, even'those who are extremely sensitive and cannot use or wear the vulcanite base. The composition A may be readily united by heating, and hence it forms an admirable substance for attaching single teeth tovbases, replacing broken teeth, and niending fractured bases.

Having thus -described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. A base for artificial teeth composed of the composition herein described, and a metallic plate, arranged or combined substantially as set forth.

2. A base for artificial teeth, having its under or lingual surface composed of the composition set forth, and applied to a. metallic plate substantially as shown and described. y

3. I claim the composition herein specilied, when used for attaching one or more teeth and gums to a metallic or other base for artificial teeth. l

The above specification of my invention signed by me this 17th day of April, 1867.

G. F. J. COLBURN.

Witnesses:

WM. F. McNAMARA, ALEX. F. RoBEnIs. 

